Apartment water bills (Houston, Austin: apartment complex, lease, how much)

[bonitadita]

The managers charge tenants for water based on number of occupants.Who makes the rules and who can I complain to about water leaks on the property that arent being repaired?$36 a month for a two bedroom with two occupants is too much.I dont even have a washing machine but my neighbor does and she pays the same amount I do.

[oceangaia]

That's the way it goes with shared utilities where units are not individually metered. They make the rules and you agree to them when you sign the lease. Find a complex that builds water into the base rent or rent a house.

[bonitadita]

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

That's the way it goes with shared utilities where units are not individually metered. They make the rules and you agree to them when you sign the lease. Find a complex that builds water into the base rent or rent a house.

I disagree with you.There has to be somebody that makes the rules like the city water utility.Ill have to do some research to find out.

[oceangaia]

All the water department cares about is that the metered bill to the complex gets paid. How they divide it up between the tenants is not their concern. Feel free to prove otherwise.

[rasta empress]

I thought the divided bills was standard. @ Bonitadita it doesn't matter whether you don't have a washing machine and your neighbour does, none of that is taken into account. They just divide the bill based on the size of your apartment and number of people living in it.

$36 does seem a bit high for one person however, that sounds like a two person bill unless rates have gone way up or your complex is wasting water.

Every place I've lived has disclosed this method of water billing prior to me signing a lease and given an estimate of how much their tenants pay. I don't think the city water utilities will give you much satisfaction if you complain but you are welcome to try.

[Eastender67]

I disagree with you.There has to be somebody that makes the rules like the city water utility.Ill have to do some research to find out.

Read your apartment lease. Is that (agreement to pay) IN your lease or NOT? The city has nothing to do with that. Neither does the city have anything to do with "water leaks on the property". Water leaks on the property are the responsibility of the apartment management. I think you're stuck with something that was there when you moved in and have just now decided to complain about it. Actually, you're paying about TWICE what you would pay with a small home and light water usage. My bill runs $13.97/month. That's for base rate I believe.

[chris_ut]

The government is not going to save you after you didn't bother to read your lease.

[rasta empress]

I misread I thought you were one person in a one bedroom apt. $36 for a two bedroom apartment seems fair. Its similar to what I paid in two bedrooms in both Houston and Austin. That's $18 per person in your apartment which isn't that bad.

[bonitadita]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

The government is not going to save you after you didn't bother to read your lease.

not looking to be saved son

[bonitadita]

Originally Posted by DiverTodd62

All the water department cares about is that the metered bill to the complex gets paid. How they divide it up between the tenants is not their concern. Feel free to prove otherwise.

Found out who makes the rules and who I can contact to complain about apartment complex owners not fixing water leaks : Home Page - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.state.tx.us